CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 14, 2023) – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the final 2022-23 Learfield Division III Directors' Cup standings Tuesday and the Stevens Institute of Technology Department of Athletics finished 18th out of the 323 institutions that earned at least one point.
Stevens accumulated 654 points across the athletic year, marking the Ducks' 13th straight finish in the top-45 (approximately top-10%) of all Division III institutions and fifth in the top-20. Final Learfield Division III Directors' Cup standings were not tabulated for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. Stevens was the highest finisher among the 18 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) institutions and ranked second in the state of New Jersey.
Johns Hopkins saw 14 of its teams post top-10 finishes as the Blue Jays won their first Directors' Cup after amassing 1,282 points to also cement the athletic department's fifth-straight top-10 finish. Tufts, who captured last year's Cup, finished second with 1,126.50 points, with Williams (1,112.75), MIT (1,063.25) and Emory (924.50) rounding out the top-five.
"All members of the Stevens Athletics community can take great pride in another top-20 finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup as we strive to cement our spot among the nation's elite athletic programs," Director of Athletics Russ Rogers said. "Three top-seven finishes, including a national championship and semifinal appearance, 10 conference titles and some truly outstanding individual performances stand out. The collective work and commitment, however, among all our amazing student-athletes and outstanding coaches and staff are what made this happen and will continue to be the driving force behind our future success."
"I also want to thank our alumni, families, administration, faculty, and the student body for their unwavering support and belief in the pivotal role athletics can play at the institution and in the campus experience," Rogers continued. "I cannot wait to build upon what we accomplished this year in 23-24!"
The top-20 finish concludes another strong season for Stevens Athletics. The Ducks compiled a 301-159-8 record across its team sports during the 2022-23 athletic year, producing a .652 winning percentage. The Ducks captured 10 MAC or MAC Freedom titles and produced a strong 112-30-1 (.787 winning percentage) in conference play (excluding Men's Fencing's 11-3 mark in MACFA action). The department also saw its second team national championship, had three top-seven finishes, and totaled seven NCAA All-Americans (four in wrestling and three in Track & Field), with several others earning All-America recognition from their respective sport's coaching organizations.
For the second straight year, the spring season was incredibly fruitful for the Ducks as Stevens finished seventh in Division III with 385.50 points. Stevens scored in seven out of a possible nine sports, with Men's Volleyball earning a department-high 100 points after winning the second team national championship in school history. Men's Lacrosse (64) was the fourth-highest scoring sport for the department after the Ducks reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The department received 50 points each from Women's Lacrosse, Men's Tennis and Women's Tennis after each squad recorded an NCAA victory. Golf (49) and Women's Outdoor Track & Field (22.5) rounded out the spring contributions.
Stevens finished the fall tied for 41st after accumulating 133 points on the strength of two teams reaching their sport's respective NCAA Tournament. Men's Soccer's impressive run to the national semifinals for just the second time in program history was worth 83 points for the second-highest total among the Ducks' scoring programs. Women's Volleyball added 50 points after its NCAA victory over Manhattanville.
Winter produced the department's second-best total among the three athletic seasons, as the department scored in three sports to amass 135.50 points to remain 41st in the country. Wrestling was the third-highest scorer in the department after four Ducks earned All-America honors to finish seventh in the country, totaling 72 points. Women's Indoor Track & Field added 38.5 points to the department total and Women's Basketball added 25 points after earning the program's second at-large NCAA berth to round out the winter scoring.
Among conference schools, Stevens finished comfortably ahead of Messiah, who totaled 442.50 points to finish 42nd. With York (330.50 – 57th place), Misericordia (229 – 79th place) and Widener (196.75 – 94th place) rounding out the top-five totals among the 13 ranked MAC schools.
Within New Jersey, Rowan amassed 767.50 points to finish 15th as the highest finisher in the Garden State. Stevens was next, with The College of New Jersey (512 – 32nd place) rounding out the top three.
The Learfield College Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today. Through the course of the year, Directors' Cup points are awarded based on a school's finish in up to 18 sports – nine men and nine women – in NCAA Championships. Four years ago, the scoring structure was amended for Division III, with men's and women's soccer and men's and women's basketball now being included by every school in their scoring total, which is then followed by the next 14 highest point totals. Previously, the top nine men's and women's scoring teams could be counted; now, regardless of whether a school's soccer and basketball teams qualify for the NCAA's, they must be counted. Directors' Cup points accumulated can vary by sport even if teams advance to the same round. Any points scored after the 18 countable scores are removed from a school's final total.
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